Thomas B. Fordham Institute
P.O. Box 82291, Columbus, OH 43202
Most of the nearly 3,457 public schools in Ohio are operated by one of the state’s 606 school districts. Charter schools, which are called community schools under the Ohio Revised code, account for 318 of the state’s public schools, which operate with more autonomy than district schools. Charter schools operate under a contract with an authorizer (sponsor). There are 19 sponsors in Ohio nonprofits, a state university, school districts, educational service centers, and the state department of education.
Currently, all Ohio districts can authorize charter schools. All state-chartered schools in Ohio are authorized by a state approved entity and serve as their own Local Education Agency (LEA).
